The other night I was strolling around the Internets at mydear, sweet, belovedP'srequest, looking for what I'll call a man bag. They're quite popular here in Europe and great for the summer as pocket space is rather limited.

I picked up a nice canvas one for him at the market last week, but he's already looking toward winter and the rainy season, so I'm on a mission to find a nice leather pouch--a cross between a fanny pack and a small purse--kind of looks like a camera bag.

Anyway, I typed in "borsetta di pelle," which means small leather purse, and I stumbled across one of most wonderful sites I've seen in a long, long time: Bella Bags by Marcía.

These are some of the cutest, most original, most fun [insert more positive, superlative adjectives here] bags I've seen, and I immediately thought of all of my wonderful readers who might also enjoy a Bella Bag or two or three, etc.

So I contacted the bella Marcía, and starting now until 19 August, you can get your very own Bella Bag at 15% off just by entering the coupon code "bleedingespresso" at checkout!

These bags and other accessories make fabulous gifts--birthdays, baby showers, holidays, thanks for being my friend days, or, you know, just for yourself when you want to carry around a bag that no one you know will have.

And we *do* love to be unique, don't we?

Also, for those of you who are green-minded (go you!), Marcía has ultra-cool organic shopping bagsmade of 100% organically grown cotton that are only $14.00 a piece:

Here are some more of my personal favorites:

Beach Bag (now on sale!)

Hand Bag (now on sale!)

La Borsetta

Book Bag

Gym Bag

There are lots of different, unique choices from fabric to shape--yoga mat bag anyone?--and you can even give a gift certificate so that special gal can choose her own bag.

If you don't see the exact one you want but have a great idea, Marcía will work with you on a customized bag as well.

Also, throughout the contest, do check back on the site for new additions!

Once I saw the Bella Bags site, I was planning on featuring Marcía's bags on here anyway, but then I saw that I could earn a free Bella Bag by hosting an online party. I assure you, though, this is not my reason. And a contest was born.

***CONTEST***

Through this sale, if I happen to earn enough Bella Bag points for a freebie, I will randomly pick a name from those who comment on THIS POST up until (and including) 11:59 p.m. (that's 23.59 to some of you) (CEST) on 19 August; the name selected will get a free Bella Bag (I'll pay for shipping).

Each name will only be entered once in the random drawing, and you can live anywhere in the world to enter.

But there's more! Even if I *don't* earn enough points, I'll go ahead and spring for a bag myself and then pick a winner (same guidelines as above on eligibility and selection).

To be clear, that's ONE winner, either sponsored by your purchases or by mine. Bag is always my choice, though, so for your sake, I do hope we have similar tastes.

Sound good? Any questions, please leave them in the comments or email me.As I wrote to Marcía, supporting creative entrepreneurs is important to me because I truly admire anyone with the talent and drive to forge ahead doing what they love.

On that note, if any of you creative entrepreneurs out there would like to be featured here (I'm looking at you Jane!), shoot me an email and we can work something out.

And to my fellow bloggers, why not host an e-party of your own to support the wonderful creative souls that surround us? Now you should:

(2) Tell your friends, family, and fellow online addicts to come over here and comment as well (and, you know, have a look around if they so desire); and

(3) Go over to Bella Bags by Marcíaand buy a Bella Bag of your own. Be sure to use the coupon code "bleedingespresso" at checkout for the 15% discount, and this way you'll be *sure* to have the coolest bag to close out the summer...or already have a head start on your holiday gift list.

OK, when you had mentioned that you were going to host a contest, I was thinking along the lines of something simple. I really like this idea. Very creative, Michelle!That's very kind of you to offer to purchase one yourself if you don't accumulate enough points. I don't think it will come to that though because you have many readers and I don't know any woman who would pass up the opportunity to purchase a purse... especially, at 15% off! ;)

oh, i want to be in the contest too! i love handmade products and those bags are too cute. i'm eyeing the yoga mat bag. problem is, i don't even do yoga, but maybe if i'll buy one it will get me started. hehe.

These are great bags! There's a store about an hour from me that allows you to pick your own patterns and create your own bags, and this reminds me of it...but the bonus is with these, I can shop on-line! ;-)

wow! cute bags! This contest is a great idea -- for you & Bella Bags! I had never heard of her. Since I am lucky enough to live where Bella Bags sells, I will probable also check out her bags at the SOWA open market.